How does Tyler's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Tyler (≈ 0–59 mg/L) is 121 mg/L softer than average.

Tyler Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

soft

~0–59 mg/L

Soft

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

7.6

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.006 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

96 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.08

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

soft~0–59 mg/LSoft · est.

0–60

mg/L

Soft

61–120

mg/L

Moderately Hard

121–180

mg/L

Hard

180+

mg/L

Very Hard

Appliance Damage Report

In Tyler, your appliances are currently losing 4% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Tyler	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	8.2 yrs	8.5 yrs	-4%
Washing Machine	11.5 yrs	12 yrs	-4%
Water Heater	14.4 yrs	15 yrs	-4%

Regional Water Comparison

How Tyler compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Tyler, Texas	≈ 0–59 mg/L	20.9 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Jacksonville, Texas	≈ 180+ mg/L	29.2 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	reservoir
Kilgore, Texas	≈ 120–179 mg/L	5.8 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Henderson, Texas	≈ 120–179 mg/L	11.1 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Athens, Texas	≈ 120–179 mg/L	0 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Tyler compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Tyler	≈ 0–59 mg/L	🟢 None
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Tyler's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 96 mg/LpH: 7.6

The City of Tyler Water Utilities serves approximately 104,798 residents in Tyler, Smith County, Texas. Water is drawn from surface water reservoirs and treated at the Golden Road Water Treatment Plant using conventional filtration methods. The utility maintains static water pressure between 30–125 psi across the distribution system. Water quality details are publicly available through Texas Drinking Water Watch using system number 2120004. Emergency contact is (903) 531-1230 with after-hours support at the treatment plant at (903) 597-6541, and residents may contact the Water Service Center at (903) 531-1285 for quality concerns.

Tyler's supply draws from the Neches River watershed in East Texas, traversing Cretaceous-age sediments including the Woodbine Sand and Eagle Ford Shale, with sandy soils and pine-dominated forests characterizing the catchment. This geology yields a soft supply with low mineral content, as surface waters interact minimally with carbonate rocks like limestone — unlike central Texas limestone terrains that produce hard water. The result is moderately mineralised water shaped by organic inputs from vegetation rather than dissolved calcium and magnesium hardness ions. The deeper Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer system is not used as a potable source.

Soft water minimizes scale buildup in water heaters, dishwashers, and other appliances, easing maintenance with basic cleaning routines. No water softener is typically recommended for soft supplies, though whole-house filtration can address organic residues or chlorine tastes introduced during treatment. Tyler earns a C (Fair) water quality grade from TapWaterData, with 3 contaminants exceeding EPA health-based guidelines (MCLGs) among 184+ tested — though no MCL violations are reported. Surface water undergoes conventional filtration at the Golden Road Water Treatment Plant; specific pH, lead/copper, and PFAS data are unavailable in current published sources.

Geology & Source: East Texas Piney Woods — Cretaceous Woodbine Sand and Eagle Ford Shale with unconsolidated sands and clays; minimal limestone contact yields soft surface water low in calcium and magnesium; Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer not used

Other Texas Water Reports

Jacksonville

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Kilgore

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Henderson

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Athens

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

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Notice an error or missing data? Help us keep this page accurate. If you spot incorrect water hardness, outdated utility info, or missing details, please let us know.

All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Tyler's water safe to drink?

Yes. Tyler's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 0–59 mg/L (Soft), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Tyler?

Tyler's water is soft at ≈ 0–59 mg/L. A water softener is generally not necessary, though a carbon filter can improve taste and remove any remaining chlorine.

How does Tyler compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Tyler (≈ 0–59 mg/L) is 121 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Tyler is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.

Estimated

Water Hardness

Modelled estimate based on state-level USGS geological survey data for this region. No direct USGS Water Quality Portal measurement was matched to this city — the value reflects a statistical range calibrated to the state's dominant rock types and typical source water characteristics.

Estimated

Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.

Estimated

TDS — Total Dissolved Solids

Estimated using a derived ratio from water hardness and regional conductance profiles. TDS in natural water correlates strongly with total mineral content including hardness ions.

Measured

PFAS — Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

EPA UCMR5 (5th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 2023–2025) — sum of PFAS compounds detected at the public water system serving this city. A value of 0 indicates the system was sampled with no detection above reporting limits.

Modelled

Lead

Modelled estimate based on the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap-sample methodology. No publicly available per-city lead dataset with sufficient national coverage exists. Values are a conservative baseline derived from city population tier and infrastructure age — all estimates are maintained below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.

Calculated

Appliance Lifespan

Calculated from water hardness using a linear degradation model. Baseline lifespans represent soft-water performance (kettle: 8.5 yrs, washing machine: 12.0 yrs, water heater: 15.0 yrs). Hard water mineral scale progressively reduces operational life in direct proportion to hardness concentration.